History Questions : What Did People Use to Write Before Pencils Were Invented?

3,263 views · Published 22 May 2009 · 1:41 · Indexed 21 September 2026

Channel: ehow · 2009 · Howto & Style

Watch on YouTube

Before pencils were invented, people used a wide variety of materials to write, such as paint, ink, charcoal, ashes, dirt and slate. Find out how humans have made marks in the past with answers from an experienced teacher in this free video on world history.

Expert: Diane Winans
Bio: Diane Winans is a teacher of history, English and other core subjects with more than 40 years of experience in Ft. Worth, Texas.
Filmmaker: Kevin Haberer

More from this channel

• 1:36 Estate Planning : What Is a Missing Heir?

  ehow

  485 views · 28 August 2008

• 1:11 Estate Planning : How Many Months Do You Have to File an Estate Tax Return?

  ehow

  559 views · 28 August 2008

• 1:21 Estate Planning : When Should I Begin Planning My Estate?

  ehow

  378 views · 28 August 2008

• 1:09 Estate Planning : What Is Estate Planning?

  ehow

  840 views · 28 August 2008

• 0:53 Estate Planning : What Is a Family Estate Trust?

  ehow

  775 views · 28 August 2008

• 1:49 Estate Planning : Do Some Heirs Have More Rights Than Others?

  ehow

  935 views · 28 August 2008

• 1:17 Estate Planning : Definition of an Estate Executor

  ehow

  1,109 views · 28 August 2008

• 1:15 Estate Planning : Heirs' Rights in Absence of a Will

  ehow

  858 views · 28 August 2008